AIR Launches 'AI in Health Network' to Study How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Healthcare and Outcomes

Eight selected projects will generate evidence on the benefits, risks, and real-world applications of AI in healthcare and public health

Arlington, VA - The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is launching of its AI in Health Network, a new collaborative research effort to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve healthcare delivery, expand access to services, and support better health outcomes. The network brings together researchers, healthcare organizations, and technology developers from across the globe through eight projects that will study AI applications in real-world settings, generating evidence to inform decisions about their use.

The selected projects address a wide range of health challenges, from improving cancer treatment and reducing emergency department wait times to expanding access to vision care, HIV prevention, and nutrition services. Together, they will explore both the potential benefits and risks of AI, with a focus on producing practical findings that healthcare providers, public health organizations, and policymakers can use.

"We hear a lot about the potential of AI, but we still need stronger evidence about where it delivers meaningful results and where it falls short," said Brandy Farrar, an AIR Institute Fellow who leads the AI in Health Network. "By bringing together technologists, researchers, and healthcare practitioners, this network will help generate that evidence. We want to help organizations make informed decisions about when and how to use AI so they can achieve their goals while minimizing risks and unintended consequences."

The AI in Health Network connects researchers and partners across healthcare, public health, and technology to study promising AI applications and share what they learn. The network is also designed to help projects learn from one another and contribute to a broader evidence base through shared learning activities and common measures where feasible. By bringing these efforts together, AIR aims to strengthen the evidence base on AI's effectiveness, safety, and real-world impact, helping organizations distinguish promising innovations from approaches that may not deliver meaningful results.

The AI in Health Projects

The eight selected projects include:

• Beyond Screening: Connecting Students and Families to Vision Care
  Led by Tina Wang, Need Eye Exam, PLLC
  Tests an AI-powered electronic medical record (EMR) that helps school nurses identify students with vision problems and connect families with eye care providers. The study will assess whether AI can improve access to follow-up care, particularly for students who face barriers to receiving treatment.
  
• Clinical Capacity on Demand: Evaluating AI-Powered Healthcare Delivery
  Led by Melissa Clark, American Institutes for Research
  Examines whether AI can safely deliver care for common conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and urinary tract infections. Researchers will assess its effects on access, patient safety, costs, and the ability of clinicians to focus on more complex medical needs.
  
• Improving Breast Cancer Treatment Support Through Bilingual AI Tools
  Led by Patricia Chalela, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  Develops a bilingual AI-powered tool to help Latina breast cancer patients navigate treatment, manage concerns, and stay on prescribed hormone therapy. The project will explore whether personalized support can improve treatment adherence and help patient navigators reach those who need assistance.
  
• Culturally Responsive AI for Family Planning Counseling in India
  Led by Uttara Balakrishnan, American Institutes for Research
  Evaluates an AI-powered voice assistant that provides community health workers in India with real-time family planning guidance in local languages. The research will explore how culturally responsive AI can improve counseling, expand access to accurate information, and support informed contraceptive choices.
  
• CARE: Improving Patient Communication With AI
  Led by Rumi Chunara, New York University
  Creates and evaluates an AI-powered tool that helps clinicians write messages to patients that are clearer, more compassionate, easier-to-understand, and clinically meaningful. The project seeks to establish an evidence-based approach to assessing and improving written communication between healthcare providers and patients.
  
• FED-ER-AID: AI Decision Support for Emergency Departments
  Led by Emad Awad, University of Utah
  Develops AI tools to identify emergency department patients at risk of long wait times before receiving care. Using privacy-protecting approaches across multiple hospital systems, the study will explore how predictive technology can help reduce delays, improve patient safety, and support more consistent decision-making.
  
• From Policy to Plate: AI-Powered Food Fortification Monitoring
  Led by Sonam Gupta, American Institutes for Research
  Creates an AI-powered smartphone tool to measure iron levels in fortified foods across mills in India, offering a faster, lower-cost alternative to laboratory testing. The technology could strengthen nutrition monitoring and help ensure foods meet standards designed to prevent iron deficiency, particularly among women and young children.
  
• PrEPVoice: AI-Powered Support for HIV Prevention in South Africa
  Led by Ceren Koca, HumanTruths, Inc.
  Tests a multilingual AI-powered phone system that answers questions, addresses concerns, and connects patients with healthcare providers. The study will assess whether this approach can help people in South Africa make informed decisions about HIV prevention and continue using long-acting preventive medication. It also will examine whether AI can make personalized patient engagement scalable in settings where health system resources are limited.

The network is part of AIR's broader AI Nexus, which brings together research, tools, and practical guidance to inform how AI is used across health, education, the workforce, and other areas. Findings and updates from the eight projects will be shared through the AIR website as the research progresses.

About AIR
Established in 1946, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of education, health, and the workforce. With headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR has offices across the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit www.air.org.